Forest resources

Context and issues

Forests cover almost a third of the Earth's land area, including over a billion hectares in warm regions. Natural and planted forests have a major social, economic and ecological impact on a global level, for the planet, and also on a national and local level for individual countries, firms and people.

The figures for forests

Tropical forests represent half the forests worldwide and are home to more than half the Earth's terrestrial species. They play a vital role in conserving biodiversity and capturing carbon ― 1 hectare of tropical forest stores 200 tonnes of carbon on average in the aerial parts of its trees (trunk, branches and leaves). However, tropical forests are in danger. Over the past decade, 2 million hectares have been converted to agricultural land or industrial plantations each year. Preserving tropical forests therefore means sustainable management of their resources to benefit rural communities and society in general.